The 47 Morning Update with Ben Ferguson

Episode: "Trump Was Negotiating While the Media Was Lying"

Date: January 22, 2026

Host: Ben Ferguson

Episode Overview

In this episode, Ben Ferguson spotlights a major diplomatic development: President Donald Trump’s successful negotiation of a broad Arctic security framework in Davos, particularly concerning Greenland—a move the mainstream media had widely dismissed as impossible or dangerous. Ferguson deconstructs media narratives around the talks, highlights Trump’s strategy of leveraging tariff threats, and expounds on Trump’s call for new approaches to international peacekeeping, including the President's idea of creating a “Board of Peace” outside the United Nations system.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Media Narratives vs. Reality on Greenland and the Arctic Deal

• Ferguson opens by emphasizing that the media wrongly predicted Trump would escalate matters in Greenland to the point of military invasion or trade war.

  • "The Democratic Party and the media claiming that Donald Trump was going to invade Greenland, go to war and just start killing innocent people. Yeah, they were lying to you." (Ben Ferguson, 03:34)

• Despite warnings of world conflict and economic chaos, Trump secured a framework deal on the Arctic, specifically Greenland, with US and NATO allies.

  • "After a very, quote, unquote, productive discussion with NATO secretary general and the US And NATO allies have agreed on a framework for a future deal related to Greenland and the broader Arctic region." (Ben Ferguson, 03:58)

2. Deal Structure and President Trump’s Comments

• Trump describes the agreement as beneficial for the US, NATO, and the region, focusing on cooperation, security, and resource management.

  • "We have a concept of a deal. I think it's going to be a very good deal for the United States, also for them. And we're going to work together on something having to do with the Arctic as a whole, but also Greenland." (Donald Trump, 04:50)
  • Mineral rights and the "golden dome" are referenced as significant incentives.
    • "Yeah, the golden dome. And they're going to be involved in the golden dome and they're going to be involved in mineral rights. And so are we." (Donald Trump, 06:01)

• Trump claims the agreement is effectively perpetual:

  • "It'll be forever for Greenland at this point. Forever." (Donald Trump, 06:17)
  • Ferguson responds: "That's a staggering... That's better than a 90 year deal." (Ben Ferguson, 06:22-06:24)

• Comparison with previous diplomatic efforts, notably Obama’s Iran deal:

  • "This is what, two hours after it's... Better than the Obama deal with the famous Iran nuclear deal with a nine year... Now this is forever." (Donald Trump & Ben Ferguson, 06:25-06:27)

3. Tariffs, Leverage, and De-escalation

• Trump withdrew tariff threats and ruled out military action, which settled financial markets and reassured global partners.
  • "Donald Trump canceling the threat of imposing new tariffs on several European allies that had opposed his previous Greenland approach." (Ben Ferguson, 07:33)
  • "Military force, something that the media lied about...has been explicitly ruled out." (Ben Ferguson, 07:51)

Quote:

"The military is not on the table. I don't think it'll be necessary. I really don't. I think people are going to use better judgment..."
— Donald Trump (08:42)

4. Trump’s “Board of Peace” Proposal and Critique of the United Nations

• President Trump calls for a new “Board of Peace,” stating that the UN has repeatedly failed to maintain global security and address humanitarian crises.

  • "Everybody wants to be on it, but yeah, I have some controversial people on it, but these are people that get the job done...the Board of Peace will be the most prestigious board ever." (Donald Trump, 11:24)
  • "And I think it'll be the most prestigious board of any board ever in world history." (Donald Trump, 12:05)

• Ferguson runs through a litany of UN failures:

  • Rwanda genocide (1994): "What was the UN's response? UN peacekeepers were actually reduced, not reinforced, after the killings began." (Ben Ferguson, 13:26)
  • China’s treatment of Uighur Muslims, Syria’s civil war, Myanmar’s ethnic cleansing, Iran’s protest crackdowns, Sudan’s Darfur genocide, and Hamas infiltration of UN groups.
  • "The United nations is all about anarchy and chaos and protecting the bad guys." (Ben Ferguson, 12:18)
  • "Here we are with a president that is saying a couple of different things. One, I'm going to keep America safe at all costs and that includes dealing with the Arctic. And I'm going to put together a good group of people for peace in the world because the United nations is, well, worthless." (Ben Ferguson, 16:32)

5. Strategic Context: Arctic as a Global Battleground

• Ferguson frames Trump’s Arctic successes as not just a win for the US, but a major strategic setback for Russia and China.
  • "China had publicly said back in 2009 and again in 2016 very clearly that they wanted to have dominance in the Arctic. Now, President Trump confirming the deal he's reached...isn't only Greenland, it's the entire Arctic." (Ben Ferguson, 06:37)

Quote:

"Trump's about to go down in history books as squashing our adversaries and most importantly, their Arctic influence."
— Ben Ferguson (06:42)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Military Threats:

  • "The military is not on the table. I don't think it'll be necessary...people are going to use better judgment."
    — Donald Trump (08:42)

• On the Permanence of the Deal:

  • "It'll be forever for Greenland at this point. Forever."
    — Donald Trump (06:17)

• On the Media's Narrative:

  • "The left of the media said it was going to be World War 3."
    — Ben Ferguson (08:20)

• On UN Inefficacy:

  • "The United nations is...worthless."
    — Ben Ferguson (16:32)

• On the Board of Peace Proposal:

  • "The Board of Peace will be the most prestigious board ever...the most prestigious board of any board ever in world history."
    — Donald Trump (12:05)

Timeline of Key Segments

| Timestamp | Segment | |-----------|---------| | 03:03 | Ben Ferguson begins the main segment on Trump’s Arctic/Greenland deal | | 04:50 | Trump discusses details of the new framework and its benefits | | 06:17 | Trump states the deal is “forever” for Greenland | | 07:33 | Ferguson explains Trump’s withdrawal of tariffs and media’s mischaracterization | | 08:38 | Trump rules out military action in response to media speculation | | 11:24 | Trump introduces concept of 'Board of Peace' as alternative to UN | | 12:18 - 16:32 | Ferguson enumerates UN failures and underscores Trump’s approach |

Conclusion

Ben Ferguson’s episode counters media and political criticism of the Trump administration’s Arctic diplomacy, presenting Trump as a master negotiator using leverage for peaceful ends and proposing new ideas for global peace that bypass the United Nations. The main takeaways emphasize Trump’s diplomatic win in securing a lasting Arctic framework, the debunking of media narratives around military threats, and a forward-looking pitch for new international peace mechanisms.